So, in the level I'm on, there are gates I can't open and some big fans, with a timed puzzle that seems inordinately difficult but probably isn't if I put my mind to it and map it out - I think this is an optional puzzle, and I remember being stuck around that time.

I think I must be on level 8. I vaguely remember going to a walk-through, still not being able to figure out what to do, and giving up. I'll be back playing tomorrow night and then I'll know exactly where I got lost.

Of course - I'll have to remember how to play the game, too....It's been a while and the combat is very hard. I seem to remember more than one troll in the corridors I'm in.

Is this where you can see the giant spider through the gates? Did you go down a corridor that has an electric projectile you have to avoid? Beyond that is an area with ogres. Bring up your map and you can find out the level and the general area you are in. There are no timed puzzles on level 8. Maybe it is the one I skipped on level 7 where you have to block 30 electric projectiles.

I've been fighting Wardens (4 tougher Ogres) and several Goromorgs in a large room at the start of level 12. I will have to go back to 11 later. It is a hard fight and I was sneaky and ran up and down the stairs to beat the Wardens. It worked, so I'm happy.

I'm on Level 8 and now I remember why I quit. I am absolutely stumped.

I've passed the long hallway with projectiles which eventually led me into a sort of maze area with Ogres. Those, I managed to kill.

I saved just before going into a transporter that leads me to a room where there are two brass keys and a whole load of enemies. I can't get back out with more than one character alive because you get surrounded very quickly. My mage does almost right away.

Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a healing crystal anywhere near, not on this level or the one above. Otherwise I'd just go heal and carry on exploring. Because I can't do that, it's essentially game over here.

There are many areas in this level that I have marked as not completed, but I spent hours trying to work out if there was anything else I could do other than enter the room with the two brass keys, and I am blocked everywhere, it seems.

I think I know where you are. There are a lot of Herders, both big and small. You need to move around a lot. I could find corners that seemed safe for a moment. I would get rid of the small ones first, since they are easy to kill while running away from the big ones. When you get the population down, it will be easier. Have health and energy potions available.

There is a crystal on the level. I came down the secret stairs and ran into it almost immediately. It is just before the start of the projectile hallway. You should see some stairs on your map near there. You can see the Giant Spider though bars near it. Go back through the projectile hallway to get to the crystal. It is not hard.

Coming down either stairs from 7, you were very close to the crystal. The secret stairs, it was right ahead. The other stairs, it was to the left and near the room with all the trap doors (spider). Check your map.

Hmm. I must have missed something. I explored all of that area and was blocked by bars everywhere.

I have tried the moving around bit in this particular combat, but always lose my mage very quickly. It's almost not worth taking the time to case a spell. I'll keep at it. Good to know that there is a crystal nearby, though I still haven;t seen it.

Anyway, I have a save position with one character left alive so if all else fails - and if I can keep him going until I find the crystal - I'll be fine.

Actually, you can skip almost all the level. Just head NW by the room with the trapdoors and there are stairs to level 9. You would miss a nice sword, though. I think the room you are in is the hardest part. Once you get past that, you shouldn't have any problem.

The spider fooled me. For a long time I thought it was dancing out the pattern of a code. Then I got fed up and killed it.

Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best.

You know, in the level upstairs there are a few places I haven't been able to get to. I can see the little blanks at the ends of corridors. I guess those will have to be for next time. One thing I have noticed is that I find the runes very hard to see and I bet I've missed a few.

Edit: Pokey, there is a special door on this level. Did you find the key for it anywhere?

Hagatha, I just saw your edit. Do you mean the Iron Door just before the stairs down to level 9? If so, there is a button in the projectile corridor almost across from the last door on the right. It opens another door nearby. The gear key is there.

The runes are very hard to see. I keep clicking on ones that don't do anything.

Argh. That projectile corridor again, eh? My mage really doesn't last long in there, even if I do the duck and cover routine.

Okay, back to it.

Once again I'm remembering how difficult and complex this game is, and what a superior dungeon crawl it is, too.

EDIT: Pokey, can you be more specific about the location of that key? I found and pushed that button but nothing seems to have changed in any of the nearby rooms.

EDIT: Oh, I see.

Level 9 was annoying until I remember what my old friend Garrett used to do to tapestries with Constantine's Sword when he got frustrated.

That Hallway - argh. I think I know what to do, though.

Spoke too soon. I'm pretty sure that I have the instructions for advancing down the hallway, but they make no sense to me at all. I've tried various different interpretations of the instructions but none of them have worked. This is one of a few puzzles in the game that I think aren't really properly clued; the clues have to actually make sense or they aren't actually clues. I hate it when I have to resort to a walkthrough so early in a level, but thank heaven for Youtube.

Hagatha, if it is the hallway I am thinking about, watch the walls carefully. The changes you see will clue you in the the fact that you have changed direction. Advance slowly until you notice a change and then reverse direction.